Machine for assembling ladder parts



W. C- ULINE MACHINE FOR ASSEMBLING LADDER PARTS Jan. 26, 1932.

5 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed March 13, 1931 ZZZ/6 732277"! mum Jan. 26, 1932. w. c. ULINE MACHINE FOR ASSEMBLING LADDER PARTS M e 2 6 3 a 7 n& fi m a a, a a r 5 1 fix 5 W m5 5 4 AW m r 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 Q wmJ MII E: m" llmil .m u I" m I I!" x J w M f k .P. m I

W. C. ULINE Filed March 13, 1931 Jan. 26, 1932.

MACHINE FOR ASSEMBLING LADDER PA-R'I'S l lll I in k Jan. 26, 1932. w. c. ULINE MACHINE FOR ASSEMBLING LADDER PARTS 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed March 13, 1931 77c z Zfe7" C ZZZZ'7Ze Jan. 26 1932 w. c. UU'NE' 1,842,850

MACHINE FUR ASSEMBLING LADDER PARTS Filed March 13, 1931 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 Patented Jan. 26, 1932 ",iJNlTED- STATES PATENT OFFICE WALTER C. ULINE, F NAPIANEE, INDIANA MACHINE FOE ASSEMBLING LADDER PARTS Application filed March 13, 1931. Serial No. 522,405.

My invention relates more particularly to machines for assembling the step-forming parts of ladders with the side-bars thereof; and my primary objects, generally stated,

leg section 11 hingedly connected together at their upper ends adjacent a platform section 11 the riser section 11 comprising side bars 12, tension rods 13 connecting the bars are .to provide a machine by means of which 12 together in the desired spaced apart con- 55 the assembling operation may be performed dition and step-forming boards 14 which fit quickly and economically; and to provide a at their ends in gains in the inner faces of simple and economical construction of mathe bars 12.

, chine for this purpose; and other objects as The machine shown is provided for the in will be manifest from the following depurpose of assembling with the side bars 12 60 scliption, to which the rods 13 have been connected as Referring to the accompanying drawings: shown in Fig. 10, the step-forming boards 14 Fi 1 i a la i w f a a hi 11- which, in accordance with the particular ma- V b dyi y i ti chine shown, are simultaneously forced to 2 5 Figure 2 is a view in side elevation thereof. p sl lon into the gains 15. 65

Figure 3 is an enlarged end View of the machine, the machine being viewed from the left-hand side of Fig. 2.

Figure 1 is a broken longitudinal sectional view of the machine, the section being taken at the line -fl-l on Fig. 3 and viewed in the direction of the arrows.

Figure 5 is .a section taken at the irregular line 55 on Fig. 4 and viewed in the direction of the arrows the ladder parts to be as sem'bled being shown as located in the machine, but in disassembled position.

Figure 6 is a view like Fig. 5 and of the structure therein showing the ladder parts in assembled position.

Figure 7 is a broken section taken at the line 77 on- Figs. 5 and 8 and viewed in the direction of the respective arrows, this view being an enlargement of the parts represented in Fig. 5.

Figure 8 is a section taken at the line 88 on Fig. 7 and viewed in the direction of the arrows.

*iguretQ is an enlarged broken section taken at the line 99 on Fig. (3 and viewed in the direction of the arrows; and

Figure 10, a face view of the completed ladder the side bars and step-forming parts of which are assembled by the machine of the preceding figures.

As apreface to a description of the machine, it maybe stated that an example of a ladder to be made on the machineis illustrated in Fig. 10, the ladder being of a construction comprising a riser section 11 and a rear The machine comprises a frame formed of end members 16, upper side bars 17 and lower side bars 18 vertically adjustably mounted on the end members 16 by bolts 19 extending through vertically elongated slots 20 in the end members 16'.

Located at the inner sides of the bars 17 in spaced apart position therealong are supports 21 in the form of blocks, for the asscnibled side bars 12 and tension rods 13. The blocks 21', which are of angle shape as shown and support the side bars 12 at their horizontal flange portions 22, are mounted on the inner ends of rods 23 slidable in the bars 17 and normally outwardly pressed by coil springs 2a which surround the rods 23 and bear at opposite ends, respectively, against the outer sides of the bars 17 and nuts 25 on these rods.

The machine also comprises means for re ceiving the step-forming boards ltt and forcing them into the gains 15 to the position shown in Fig.7 6, these means comprising the following mechanism.

Located beneath the blocks 21 is a vertically movaole frame formed of parallel bars 26 secured together by tie rods '27 with spacer sleeves 28 surrounding the rods 27 and located between the bars 26, the latter being provided at their outer faces with plates 29 secured-thereto by screws 30.

The plates 29, shown as notched at their upper edges as indicated at 31, to receive the lower edges of the step-forming boards 14, are slidable in'inclined grooves, or slideways,

chine for operation on step-forming boards,

14 of different lengths.

It may be here stated that in the use of the machine the ladder side bars 12 with the tension rods 13 assembled together as'shown are 7 applied to the position shown in Figs. 4 and 5 to rest at the side bars 12 on the horizontal portions 22 of the blocks 21 between the side bars 17 and vertical flanges 38 on the blocks 21, the outer faces of the flanges 38 being inwardly inclined as represented at 39, the parts being so proportionedand arranged that in positioning the ladder parts as above described the side bars 12 will extend in oppositely tilted position as shown in Fig. 5,

i namely in a position in which they converge upwardly crosswise of the ladder structure. The step-forming boards 14 to be assembled with the side bars 12 are inserted at their ends into the grooves 34 and seat at their lower edges upon the frame comprising the bars 26, the grooves 34 inclining in the same direction and at the same angle as the gains 15 in theladder sides 12 and being so disposed that when the ladder sides 12 are applied to the machine in the position above noted, the several step-forming boards 14 will be lined up crosswise with the several pairs of opposed gains 15, respectively. Thus, the several step-forming boards 14 may be simultaneously shifted to cause them to extend at their ends into the several pairs of gains and thus assemble them with the side bars 12 of the ladder construction, by bodily lifting the frame of which the bars 26 are parts.

The machine shown comprises means for thus actuating the frame referred to the particular illustrated means for this purpose comprising rock members located at different points along the machine and coincident with its median line as shown and journaled in the side bars 18, the members 40 having pairs of spaced apart arms 41 at opposite ends thereof between which rollers 42 positioned directly beneath the bars 26, are journaled.

Each member 40 is provided with an arm 43 extending at an angle to the arms 41 and pivoted at 44 to a horizontal reciprocable bar 45 connected at one end with means for reciprocating it and shown as comprising a piston and cylinder mechanism represented generally at 46, the cylinder 47 of which is trunnioned at 48 to brackets 49 vertically adjustably secured to the adjacent end member 16 of the frame of the machine, the piston I known construction detailed illustration and description thereof appears to be unneces I sary, it being sufficient to state that the cylinder 47 is associated with valve mechanism represented at 53 which communicates with a pipe 54 for leading the operating fluid pressure into the valve 53 and pipes 55 and 56 leading from the valve mechanism 53 to the opposite ends of the cylinder 47 the handle by which the valve 53 is operated to alternately direct fluid pressure into the opposite ends of the cylinder 47 and exhaust it therefrom, as stated, being represented at 57.

It will be understood from the foregoing that when the valve handle 57 is swung in one direction fluid pressure will enter the cylinder 47 at one end, the fluid in the opposite end of the cylinder exhausting through the valve 53 and the bar 45 being moved lengthwise in one direction; and when the handle 57 is moved in the opposite direction the fluid pressure enters the other end of the cylinder 47, the fluid pressure previously introduced therein being exhausted through the valve 53 and the bar 45 is moved lengthwise in the opposite direction.

The machine also comprises means movable into and out of a position overlapping the upper edges of the ladder side bars 12 for the purpose of preventing the latter from becoming upwardly displaced in the stepboard-inserting operationabove referred to, these means in the particular construction shown comprising plates 58 located at different points along the bars 17 and movable crosswise thereof into and out of the p0sition shown by full lines in Fig. 6. The plates 58 are slidably mounted in channels 59 in brackets 60 secured to the side bars 17, these brackets having cover plates 61 secured thereto and extending over the plate.58, the plates 58 being provided at their undersides with racks 62 which mesh with pinions 63 secured to shafts 64 located at opposite sides of the machine and journaled in the brackets 60.

The shafts 64 are connected together by means which operate when one shaft is rotated, as by means of a hand lever 6501i one of the shafts 64, to cause the other'of these shafts to rotate in the reverse direction thereby simultaneously movingthe plates 58 at both sides of the machine into operative position (Fig. 6) when the lever equipped shaft referred to is rocked by actuating the lever in one direction and out of operative position when this lever is rocked in the opposite direction, the means shown for the purpose just stated comprising a pair of cables 66 arranged in crossed relation as shown and pivoted at heads (37 on their ends to crank pins 68 provided on disks 69 secured to the shafts 6% at one end of the machine.

In the use of the machine, assuming the parts thereof to, be in the position shown in Fig. 5, fluid pressure is introduced into the cylinder 1 to shift the .bar 45 to the left in Fig. 4 to the position shown in Figs. 2 and 6, which raises the frame comprising the bars 26, thereby raising and forcing the stepforming boards into the gains in the ladder side bars to the position shown in Fig. 6.

The positioning of the ladder side bars 12 in upwardly converging relation as shown in Fig. 5 permits of the ready entry of the stepforming boards into the gains 15, the side bars 12, as the boards move in the gains,

swinging against the yielding tension of the springs 24-. outwardly at their upper edges and inwardly attheirlower edges, on the tension rods, which latter in the final p0 sitioning of the boards in the gains are in tensioned condition.

Initial. positioning of the step-forming boards at different elevations and the extent of upward movement of the board-elevating frame, to adapt the machine for use with boards of different widths and to provide for the final. positioning of these boards in the gains, in the desired position relative to the faces of the riser section of the ladder, are provided for in the machine by certain of the described adjustments which, whileshown as of a particular type and exemplified by the vertical, adjustment of the side bars 18 and the piston and cylinder mechanism, may be provided for in any other suitably way if desired.

WVhile I have illustrated and described a particular construction of machine embodying my invention I do not wish to be understood. as intending to limit it thereto as the same may be variously modified and altered, as for example as above suggested with r gard to certain of the adjustments, without departing from the spirit of my invention.

That I claim is new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is:

1. In a machine of the character set forth, the combination of means for supporting ladder sidebars in spaced apart relation and having grooves in opposite surfaces thereof, and means for introducing step-forming elem ents into said grooves in a direction lengthwise of said grooves.

2; In a machine of the character set forth, the combination of means for supporting ladder sidebars in spaced apart relation and having grooves in opposite surfaces thereof,

the combination of means for supporting ladder side-bars in spaced apart relation and having grooves in opposed surfaces thereof, means for lntroducing step-forming elements lnto said grooves in a dlrectlon lengthwise of said rooves, and means movable into and out of a position for resisting displacement of said side-bars in the operation of said sec end-named means.

i. In a machine of the character set forth, the combination of means for supporting ladder side-bars in spaced apart relation and having grooves in opposed surfaces thereof, means for simultaneously introducing stepforming elements into said grooves in a direction lengthwise of said grooves, and means movable into and out of a position for resist-- ing displacement of said side-bars in the op eration of said second-named means.

In a machine of the character set forth, the combination of means for supporting ladder side-bars in spaced apart relation and tied together by tension rods and having grooves in opposed surfaces thereof, means yieldingly holding said bars in relatively tilted position crosswise of the length of said bars, and means for introducing step-forming elements into said grooves in a direction lengthwise of said grooves.

6. In a machine of the character set forth, the combination of means for supporting ladder side-bars in spaced apart relation and tied together by tension rods and having grooves in opposed surfaces thereof, means yieldingly holding said bars in oppositely tilted position crosswise of the length of said bars, and means for introducing step-forming elements into said grooves in a direction lengthwise of said grooves.

7. In a machine of the character set forth, the combination of means for supporting ladder side-bars in spaced apart relation and tied together by tension rods and having grooves in opposed surfaces thereof, said means comprising yieldable members having portions engaging said bars and holding the latter in oppositely tilted position crosswise of the length of said bars, and means for introducing step-forming elements into said grooves in a direction lengthwise of said grooves.

8. In a machine of the character set forth, the combination of means for supporting ladder side-bars in spaced apart relation and having grooves in opposed surfaces thereof,

and means for introducing step-forming elements into said grooves in a direction lengthwise of said grooves, said first and second named means being relatively adjustable to ward and away from each other;

9. In a machine of the character set forth,

Ts. et)

the combination of means for supporting ladder side-bars in spaced apart relation and having grooves in opposed surfaces thereof, and means for introducing step-forming elements into said grooves in a direction lengthwise of said grooves comprising a member movable toward and away from said firstnamed means and rock members for moving said first-named member.

' 10. In a machine of the character set forth, the combination of means for supporting ladder side-bars in spaced apart relation and having grooves in opposed surfaces thereof, the machine having portions presenting opposed grooves to receive the endsvof a step forming element and in which they are movable, and means for moving said element through said last-named grooves and into the grooves in said ladder side-bars.

11. In a machine of the character set forth, the combination of means for supporting ladder side-bars in spaced apart relation and having grooves in opposed surfaces thereof, the machine having portions presenting opposed grooves to receive the ends of the stepforming elements and in which they are movable and means for movin said elements through said last-named grooves and into the grooves in said ladder side-bars.

12. In a machine of the character set forth, the combination of means for supporting ladder side-bars in spaced apart relation and having grooves in opposed surfaces thereof, the machine having portions presenting grooves to receive the ends of a step-forming element and in which they are movable the bottom-forming portions of said last-named grooves being relatively adjustable for ele ments of difi erent length, and means for moving said element through said last-named grooves and into the grooves in said ladder side-bars.

13. In a machine of the character set forth, the combination of means for supporting ladder side-bars in spaced apart relation and having grooves in opposed surfaces thereof, means for introducing step-forming elements into said grooves in a direction lengthwise of said grooves, and means movable into and out of a position for resistitng displacement of said side-bars in the operation of said secondnamed means comprising members movable into and out of a position in which they overlap said ladder side-bars.

let. In a machine of the character setforth, the combination of means for supporting ladder side-bars in spaced apart relation and having grooves in opposed surfaces thereof, means for introducing step-forming elements into said grooves in a direction lengthwise of said grooves, and means movable into and out of a position for resisting displacement of said side-bars in the operation of said secondnamed means comprising members movable into and out of a position in which they overlap said ladder side-bars, shafts for actuating said members, and meansoperatively connectitng said shafts together, for the purpose set forth.

15. In a machine of the character set forth, the combination of means for supporting ladder side-bars in spaced apart relation and having grooves in opposed surfaces thereof, means for introducing step-forming elements into said grooves in a direction lengthwise of said grooves, and means movable into and out of a position for resisting displacement of said side-bars in the operation of said second-named means comprising members movable into and out of a position in which they overlap said ladder side-bars and having racks, rotatable shafts and gears meshing with said racks, for the purpose set forth.

"16. In a machine of the character set forth, the combination of means for supporting ladder side-bars in spaced apart relation and having grooves in opposite surfaces thereof, and means operating to effect relative movement of said side-bars and step-forming elements in a direction lengthwise of said grooves for assembling said side-bars and elements.

17. In a machine of the character set forth, the combination of means for supporting ladder side-bars in spaced apart relation and having grooves in opposite surfaces thereof, and means operating to effect relative movement of. said side-bars and step-forming elements simultaneously in a direction lengthwise of said grooves for assembling said sidebars and elements.

18. In a machine of the character set forth, the combination of means for supporting ladder side-bars in spaced apart relation and having grooves in opposite surfaces thereof, and means for supporting a step-forming element in alinement with the grooves in said side-bars, one of said means being adapted to be shifted in a direction lengthwise of said grooves for assembling said element with said side-bars.

19. In a machine of the character set forth, the combination of means for supporting ladder side-bars in spaced apart relation and having grooves in opposite surfaces thereof, and means for supporting a step-forming element in alinement with the grooves in said side-bars, said last-named means being adapted to be shifted in a direction lengthwise of said grooves for introducing the ends of said elementinto said grooves.

20. In a machine of the character set forth, the combination of means for supporting ladder side-bars in spaced apart relation and having grooves in opposite surfaces thereof, means for supporting a step-forming element in alinement with the grooves in said sidebars, one of said means being adapted to be shifted in a direction lengthwise of said grooves for assembling said element with loo Ill"

said side-bars, and means for actuating the shiftable one of said means.

21. In a machine of the character set forth, the combination of means for supporting ladder side-bars in spaced apart relation and having grooves in opposite surfaces thereof, means for supporting a step-forming element in alinement with the grooves in said side-bars, said last-named means being adapted to be shifted in a direction lengthwise of said grooves for introducing the ends of said element into said grooves, and means for shifting said last-named means.

22. In a machine of the character set forth,

the combination of means for supporting ladder side-bars in spaced apart relation and having grooves in opposite surfaces thereof, means for supporting a step-forming element in alinement with the grooves in said side-bars, one of said means being adapted to be shifted in a direction lengthwise of said grooves for assembling said element with said side-bars, and means movable into and out of a position for resisting displacement of the side-bars in the relative movement of said first and second named means.

23. In a machine of the character set forth, the combination of means for supporting ladder side-bars in spaced apart relation and tied together by tension rods and having grooves in opposed surfaces thereof, means yieldingly holding said bars in oppositely tilted position crosswise of the length of said M side-bars, andv means for supporting a stepforming element, said first and third means being relatively movable in a direction lengthwise of said grooves, for entering the ends of said element into said grooves.

WALTER C. ULINE. 

